Arts Jobs presentation

The Arts & Recovery: 

The Arts & Recovery "The engine of the arts in the '30s was not escapism, as we sometimes imagine, but speed, energy and movement at a time of economic stagnation and social malaise. ... If we look at the arts as a life-giving form of social therapy, many other fads and fashions of the 1930s fall into place. The thrust of the culture, like the aims of the New Deal, was to get the country moving again." ---Morris Dickstein, CUNY Graduate Center

Welcome from Jamia McDonald: 

Welcome from Jamia McDonald Director of Governor Carcieri’s Office of Economic Recovery and Reinvestment

Ground rules for today: 

Ground rules for today I’ll go through each section of the presentation. I’ll pause at the end of each section for questions while they’re fresh on your mind. Hold your questions until we reach the end of a section. Pray that we’ll get through every section and answer all of your questions.

Section 1: 

Section 1 Purpose of the program What’s the money for? Deadline for Application, and Eligibility

Purpose: 

Purpose The arts are officially part of our nation’s recovery plan! $50 million was appropriated to the National Endowment for the Arts $30 million for federal direct grants to nonprofit arts organizations $20 million to states for their direct grants

What’s the money for?: 

What’s the money for? Federal rules say it must be used to “preserve jobs” in the nonprofit arts sector. What does that mean? Salary support, full or partial, for one or more positions that are critical to an organization’s artistic mission and that are in jeopardy or have been eliminated as a result of the current economic climate. And/or Fees for previously engaged artists and/or contractual personnel to maintain or expand the period during which such persons would be engaged.

Deadline for Application: 

Deadline for Application In our possession. No exceptions!

Eligibility: 

Eligibility In order to apply, you must: Be a nonprofit organization classified as tax exempt under section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and currently registered as a non-profit organization with the Rhode Island Secretary of State’s Office Corporations Division, AND Have a significant arts program, defined as an arts program or activity that is an important part of the work of your organization in both size and scope, OR Prominently identify the arts in the organization’s mission statement as an important part of the organization’s work.

What does “significant arts program” mean?: 

What does “significant arts program” mean? an arts program or activity that is an important part of the work of your organization in both size and scope

What does “prominently identify the arts in the organization’s mission statement” mean?: 

What does “prominently identify the arts in the organization’s mission statement” mean? MISSION Perishable Theatre's Mission is to create and produce original groundbreaking, breathtaking works for the theater. Our work is dedicated to innovation in theatrical forms and content and incubation of new performance. Boys & Girls Clubs provide a safe place for youth to develop character, leadership, education, career, health, art, sports and fitness skills while becoming responsible and caring citizens.

In addition (eligibility): 

In addition (eligibility) Organizations that have not applied to RISCA for support in the past four years will be required to provide a one-page description of the arts activities of their organization. All organizations will be required to submit a complete copy of the most recent Form 990 they submitted to the Internal Revenue Service.

Section 2: 

Section 2 What we fund and what we do NOT fund Grant amounts The nature of your request

What we fund and what we do NOT fund: 

What we fund and what we do NOT fund Funds can only be used for salary and benefits related to retaining or restoring positions lost or in danger of being lost. No programming or other administrative costs May NOT be used to support fund-raising or development positions! (not our rule)

Grant amounts: 

Grant amounts $25,000 $12,500 nothing

Discussion scenario 1: 

Discussion scenario 1 “If we have to choose one position; certainly Steph's job as both Business Manager and Assistant Director and Director of Fusionworks II is pivotal in many directions, but on the other hand, I can't present anything to the community if I can't pay my dancers! And it becomes more complex - right now I am about to eliminate my pay altogether (it has been at 1/2 since December) so that I can pay the dancers, but we also don't exist without a director! So... not sure which way to go here and of course we want to get it right.” -- Deb Meunier, Artistic Director, Fusionworks Dance Company

Discussion scenario 2: 

Discussion scenario 2 “What is not answered here is how the requests are handled, i.e. if you ask for the higher amount and are found worthy, but there are lots of worthy folk ahead of your organization in line, might you be awarded the lesser amount, or simply not given any money? The NEA makes a point in its other grants to ask what would happen if you received a lesser amount than requested and whether the project could still go on. Will the panel be instructed to consider giving the lesser amount to a worthy organization, or might you simply give one fewer $12,500 grant?” -- Vanessa Gilbert, Executive Artistic Director, Perishable Theatre

Section 3: 

Section 3 How your application is reviewed, from beginning to end Evaluation criteria What you need to submit A walk-through the application form

How your application is reviewed, from beginning to end: 

How your application is reviewed, from beginning to end Application is due May 1, 2009 Staff reviews for completeness and then sends to review panel Panel reviews all applications Panel recommendations go to Council Council reviews and approves awards After NEA makes its direct grant decisions RISCA will announce its awards (early July)

Evaluation criteria: 

Evaluation criteria Each Arts Jobs applicant will first be evaluated on the value and importance of its arts programs, based either on its past record as an applicant to the State Arts Council or on the one-page description of its arts activities required of any organization that has not applied to RISCA for support in the past four years (see above under Eligibility). If the panel feels that the organization and its arts program(s) qualify as supportable, then the panel will rank each application based on the following criteria:

Evaluation criteria: 

Evaluation criteria the importance of this position or positions to the organization and its ability to continue to achieve its core artistic and/or administrative mission, the level of “public value” that will result from either restoring or retaining the position(s) indicated, including the importance to the local and/or state economy, and the ability to show, over time, that these funds have made a difference in either stabilizing or expanding the work of the organization. This will include assessing the applicant organization’s ability to gather information and report on its progress in a timely fashion

What you need to submit: 

What you need to submit All applicants are required to submit the following: One Arts Jobs application form with original signatures, signed by an authorized official of the organization (either Chairman of the Board or a board member authorized to sign checks on behalf of the organization) and by the project director (usually the Executive Director or Managing Director of the organization). The application form must be complete, with all questions and fields filled out to the best of your ability. One complete copy of the most recent Form 990 your organization has submitted to the Internal Revenue Service. A current list of the members of your Board of Directors (one copy)

What you need to submit: 

What you need to submit Important: if your organization has not applied to RISCA for support in the past four years you will be required to provide a one-page description of the arts activities of your organization.

What you DON’T need to submit: 

What you DON’T need to submit ANYTHING ELSE We do NOT want: Press clippings Video or audio tapes Pictures or slides Scrapbooks, resumes, etc. Drawings and testimonial letters from pre-schoolers Just want we asked for…

Please: 

Please Don’t staple or bind your six page application form!

A walk-through the application form: 

A walk-through the application form

The easy stuff…: 

The easy stuff…

More challenging…: 

More challenging…

Now, the fun stuff…: 

Now, the fun stuff…

The trouble this economy has caused your organization…: 

The trouble this economy has caused your organization…

What jobs, and why are they important?: 

What jobs, and why are they important?

What if these jobs were not filled?: 

What if these jobs were not filled?

Your commitment to protect the jobs for the project period: 

Your commitment to protect the jobs for the project period

Effect on other jobs – in or out of your organization: 

Effect on other jobs – in or out of your organization

The impact of your organization to the community and economy: 

The impact of your organization to the community and economy

More fun stuff…: 

More fun stuff…

And then, where you sign: 

And then, where you sign

Thanks, and Good Luck!: 

Thanks, and Good Luck!